February 3, 2017

President Trump swore to protect and defend Americans by keeping them safe from terrorism. The previous administration had identified seven nations that were either sponsors of terrorism or are controlled by terrorists, including ISIS and Al-Queda. Yet, those nations – Iraq, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Libya, and Sudan – had refugees approved to come to America without know who they were.

ISIS sent messages to their militants to use the refugee program to hide their militants among the refugees to commit terrorists’ attacks in Europe and to come to America. Trump was not going to jeopardize American lives and therefore put a 90 day temporary ban on those nations to find a plan to be assured no terrorists are coming to America by improving the screening process to keep America safe. It is the Democrats and Obama who are responsible for creating the refugee crisis through the vacuum created in Iraq when America left Iraq forcing the Iraqi government to release thousands of violent criminals and thugs from prison, which formed ISIS.

Democrats emerged from their swamp of hypocrisy to protest this travel ban, despite knowing past presidents have used travel bans on immigrants. Obama had used the travel ban 19 separate times, including a six month travel ban on Iraqi refugees in 2011 and most recently a travel ban on Cuban refugees, stranding legal Cuban travelers just a month ago. There were no protests or tears against Obama’s travel ban. I can assume Democrat leader Chuck Schumer forgot his statement in November 2015 that a refugee pause “may be necessary” as tears swelled up in his own eyes.

The fake news media pushed the narrative calling Trump’s ban a “Muslim ban” when only seven of the 57 identified Muslim nations were affected. The Democrat aligned media called the ban “unconstitutional” despite knowing that 16 current Democrat U.S. Senators and 57 Democrat Representatives were part of a unanimous vote in 2002 that passed the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Reform Act restricting non-immigrant visas from countries designated as state sponsors of terror following the attack on September 11, 2001. This law is still a Federal Law: 8 U.S. Code 1735. Trump had legal right and authority to enforce the law for security. The Democrats used their own theater to persuade public opinion and promote protests against President Trump claiming his actions were “unconstitutional” knowing full well he has legal authority through their own vote and previous actions by other presidents.

Opponents filed an appeal for a temporary ban to U.S District Judge James Robart in Seattle, who granted their appeal. Harvard Law Professor, Alan Dershowitz, who is an admitted liberal, disagreed with the ruling stating the U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled the U.S. Constitution does not protect non-citizens; therefore the ruling is an “uphill climb” for those states.

Still, those protestors who came with their cardboard signs and expressed their tears against the ban were never there for the 140 police officers killed in the line of duty in 2016. There were no tears for the 424,000 unemployed veterans or the 39,471 homeless veterans. No, only rage and tears for 109 travelers who were inconvenience and verified before their release; even though over 325,000 people traveled to America that weekend.

I am sure each of those protestors locks their doors at night not because they don’t love the people outside; but because they love the people inside and want to keep them safe.

President Trump believes a nation without borders is not a nation. He believes it is better to prevent a terrorist attack on America rather than responding to a terrorist attack on America. Trump loves Americans and wants to keep America safe.

Frank Aquila is president of the South San Joaquin Republicans and author of the book, “Sarah Palin Out of Nowhere. He can be emailed at mantecarepublicans@yahoo.com